Manufacture of articulated, predominantly concrete mat
View Patent ↗In the manufacture of an articulated, predominantly concrete mat, which comprises concrete blocks and a flexible geogrid embedded in such blocks and in which the flexible geogrid defines flexible members connecting such blocks to one another, an intermediate article being a concrete slab is cast, in which a flexible geogrid is embedded. The slab has relatively thinner portions, along which the slab is breakable to form such blocks, and relatively thicker portions, which become such blocks when the slab is broken along the relatively thinner portions. The relatively thicker portions are arranged in parallel rows and are staggered in adjacent rows, before the slab is broken therealong, and the relatively thicker portions in alternate rows are aligned in parallel columns, before the slab is broken therealong.
1. A concrete mat for an uneven ground surface, comprising:
a concrete slab having relatively thick portions defining blocks connected by relatively thinner portions, said relatively thinner portions including holes therein spaced from said relatively thick portions and defining weakened areas whereby said slab is broken along portions of the relatively thinner portions which are spaced from said relatively thick portions defining blocks to follow the uneven ground surface, the defines block being arranged in parallel rows and being staggered in adjacent rows; and
a flexible geogrid embedded in said slab, said geogrid defining flexible members connecting said blocks to one another when the slab is broken along the relatively thinner portions;
wherein grass can grow through said broken weakened areas.
2. The concrete mat of claim 1 , wherein said defined blocks have sides adjacent one another in said mat, and wherein said relatively thinner portions extend between and across substantially the entirety of said adjacent sides.
3. The concrete mat of claim 1 , wherein said holes in said thinner portions define weakened areas generally centrally located between adjacent blocks.
4. The concrete mat of claim 1 , wherein said holes are generally vertically oriented to define said weakened areas in a generally vertical orientation.
5. The concrete mat of claim 1 , wherein at least some of said holes extend vertically through said relatively thinner portions and have square mouths.